Sometimes, you just want to escape the crowds, gather with a few close friends, discover new places, and let life slow down for a while.
That’s exactly what we did — a group of six or seven friends, setting off to a place that feels like another planet, right in the heart of Turkey: Cappadocia.
Strangely enough, none of us had ever been there before. A shame, really!
The idea came from our travel agency — the same one who had planned our unforgettable yacht tour.
Besides organizing boat and sea journeys, they’re incredibly experienced in planning unique trips in Istanbul and especially in the Cappadocia region.
They’ve hosted countless events, festivals, and tailor-made experiences here — creating the seemingly impossible with absolute ease.
Even while planning the trip on paper, we could feel the excitement bubbling.
We just knew it would be more than an itinerary.
And so, we let ourselves forget time for a few magical days in this dreamlike landscape.
🏜 First Encounter: A Story Whispers from Stone
The moment you step into Cappadocia, you witness what nature can create when left untouched.
Otherworldly rock formations, the famous “fairy chimneys,” underground cities, valleys painted gold by the setting sun…
We stayed in a charming stone boutique hotel recommended by our agency.
The walls were carved from rock, and the windows opened out onto valleys.
Waking up to the morning chill, sipping hot tea on the terrace, listening to silence as the landscape greeted us —
even that alone felt like an experience.
🎈 Lifting Off at Dawn: A Journey into the Sky
Cappadocia means hot air balloons.
We were picked up at 4:30 a.m.
Before sunrise, we rose into the sky —
beneath us stretched endless valleys, a patchwork of surreal colors, and dozens of balloons suspended like dreams in the morning air.
We felt like children again.
Drifting silently above the earth, waving to nearby balloons, letting the breeze carry us forward…
Time seemed to stand still up there.
🚶♀ Quiet Walks Through the Valleys and Secret Discoveries
One of the best ways to explore Cappadocia is on foot.
We hiked with a guide through the Rose Valley, Red Valley, and Love Valley.
Along the way, we discovered ancient rock-hewn churches, hidden wine cellars, and age-old migration paths.
Sometimes we paused simply to listen.
To the silence.
To the slow stories told by stone.
🏺 A Touch for the Soul: Pottery Workshops and Peaceful Pauses
We devoted one day to something more artistic.
In Avanos, we met a local potter, dipped our hands in clay, and shaped our own pottery.
It wasn’t perfect — but each piece held something from our souls.
And then, what fits Cappadocia best at sunset?
Silence.
We climbed to a quiet spot overlooking Ürgüp, glasses of wine in hand.
Eyes on the horizon, words no longer needed.
Understanding without speaking.
Growing closer without the noise.
✨ What Remains
Cappadocia isn’t easy to put into words.
So we simply chose to live it.
A few days among the stones,
with friends who find joy in small details,
who share both laughter and silence…
It wasn’t just a trip — it felt like a cleansing of the soul.
If you’re dreaming of a journey with close friends filled with culture, nature, and meaningful meals,
Cappadocia is waiting — arms wide open.
Close your eyes and return to those valleys.
Because some places aren’t just visited…
They’re lived in, even if just for a while.